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Fairfield Police Are Searching For Sexual Assault Suspect

Students at Sacred Heart University are on high alert after a terrifying attack. Police say a student was sexually assaulted by a stranger inside her off campus home. (Published Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014)

A Sacred Heart University student was sexually assaulted in her Fairfield home early Monday morning and police have released a sketch of the attacker in hopes that someone can identify him.

Police said the student was attacked around 3 a.m. Monday while she was entering her house on Berkeley Road, located off campus in the southeast section of town near Tunxis Hill Park.

She has roommates but was home alone at the time, according to police. They said the assailant broke into her house and struggled with the victim before assaulting her and running off.

"Obviously, someone who is brazen enough to break into somebody's home and then on top of that assault them is really someone we need to get a hold of right away," explained Fairfield police spokesman Lt. James Perez.

The suspect is described as a short, stocky man between 5-foot-2 and 5-foot-6 in his 20s with some acne on his face. He speaks with a Spanish accent and has dark, spiky hair and light-colored eyes, police said.

It's not clear if he got away on foot or in a car, but police said the victim didn't see or hear a vehicle leaving the scene.

Sacred Heart officials said they don't believe the attacker is a student, and police said the suspect and victim don't appear to have known each other.

The university is offering counseling and support to the victim and her family.

In a statement released Tuesday, Sacred Heart officials said safety is their top priority and that they "send safety tips to students on a number of topics."

"The University also complies with all federal and state requirements to assist and respond to victims of sexual assault," the statement reads.

Anyone who can identify the man from the sketch or who has additional information should call the Detective Bureau at 203-254-4840.